MAINE STATE POLICE
July 20, 2004

Whenever I see items such as this offered on the on-line auction sites, it makes me wonder how many collectors are taken by such sales offers.

Maine is an interesting example. First, most serious collectors are seeking "department issue" badges. Anything less is worth less money. In the case of Maine, the state is one of the few that has a state law that prohibits the sale or distribution of any item of the state police uniform.

The Maine State Police badge is a stock die. Any uniform company can order the badge without a letter from the state police. I suspect that is exactly what has happened in this offering. Certainly, the Maine State Police aren’t going to violate their state law and allow an unopened, fresh off the shelf state police badge to enter the collectors market.

This is probably a "uniform store" reproduction that someone ordered and placed on the collectors market. The value of such an item is probably at best $35. The badge has never been property of the department, and if you will check it against the description on the BADGE GUIDE, you will see the mistake that indicates it was an order by someone wanting to make a few dollars on a new, unimpressive reproduction. Beware of Maine State Police badges that show NO wear, and especially those that come in bags!

Our publication tells the secrets of telling a "department issue" badge from a fake or a reproduction. Should you encounter a badge that you have questions about, do send us a copy of the photos, front and back. This will
help us in our efforts of telling other collectors what is out on the market these days. Should you encounter a state patrol badge and have questions about it, send us a photo of the badge, back and front, and let us give you an opinion. Remember, it is your input that alerts us to the fakes and reproductions that are out there. Support this site by telling us of questionable badges. Our BADGE GUIDE will assist you in collecting only valid badges, and will advise on a bracket price for each state.